DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF TONIGHT, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. WE DID IT. A PARENT'S JOY AS A JUDGE RULES THE EDUCATION MINISTER ACTED UNLAWFULLY TO CLOSE A SCHOOL. IS THE ALCOHOL REFORM BILL REALLY GOING TO CHANGE THE WAY WE DRINK? AND THIS MAN DREAMS OF BREAKING INTO HOLLYWOOD ` FIND OUT HOW HE GOT TOM HANKS TO HELP HIM. THE EDUCATION MINSTER ACTED UNLAWFULLY IN CLOSING A SPECIAL SCHOOL ` THAT'S THE RULING FROM A HIGH COURT JUDGE TODAY. THE ALL-GIRLS SALISBURY SCHOOL IN NELSON WAS SET TO CLOSE, UNTIL THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TOOK THE MINISTRY TO COURT AND WON. THE COURT FOUND HEKIA PARATA'S DECISION AN ABUSE OF POWER AND DISREGARDED THE RISK TO THE GIRLS IF THEY WERE MOVED TO A CO-ED FACILITY. HELEN CASTLES REPORTS. WE WON. SALISBURY'S STAYING OPEN! TEARS OF JOY FOR THE MOTHER OF A STUDENT WHO FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS HAS CALLED SALISBURY SCHOOL IN NELSON HER HOME. EDUCATION MINISTER HEKIA PARATA WANTED TO SHUT DOWN THE SPECIAL-NEEDS SCHOOL AND MOVE ALL 80 GIRLS TO A BOYS' SCHOOL IN CHRISTCHURCH. IT WOULD BE LIKE LETTING A BOMB OFF IN A SCHOOL. YOU KNOW, THESE KIDS ARE AFRAID. THEY'RE NOT ACCEPTED. THEY HAVE STRUGGLE WITH LEARNING. THEY HAVE STRUGGLE WITH UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE. TO THEM, EVERYONE ELSE IS WEIRD. BUT THE SCHOOL FOUGHT THE DECISION AND WON, A HIGH COURT JUDGE SAYING IT WAS COMMON SENSE. IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT DECISION FOR THE SAFETY OF SALISBURY GIRLS. JUSTICE DOBSON RULED THE PROSPECT OF CLOSING SALISBURY DOWN WOULD EXPOSE THE GIRLS TO GREATER RISK OF SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED CHILDREN ARE SEVEN TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE ABUSED. BOYS WHO ARE DISABLED TEND TO ABUSE EACH OTHER. OBVIOUSLY, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU BROUGHT GIRLS INTO THE MIX? HEKIA PARATA SAYS SHE'S REVIEWING THE DECISION BUT ARGUED THE MATTER ON CLOSE UP LAST MONTH. WHY ARE YOU GOING TO CLOSE SOMETHING THAT'S WORKING? STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE REFERRED TO SALISBURY SCHOOL. IT'S THE ONLY RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS IN AUSTRALASIA. THE DIFFICULTY... ON THE BASIS OF THIS JUDGEMENT, THEY'VE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE MINISTER TO GET THE NEXT DECISION RIGHT THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN FUNDRAISING TO MEET LEGAL COSTS AND WILL NOW BE SEEKING COMPENSATION FROM THE GOVERNMENT. HELEN CASTLES, ONE NEWS. THE CONTROVERSIAL ALCOHOL REFORM BILL IS NOW LAW. THE MINISTER BEHIND A RAFT OF DRINKING LAW REFORMS SAYS IT'S A MAJOR MILESTONE RESTRICTING THE SALE AND SUPPLY OF ALCOHOL. BUT CRITICS SAY IT WILL DO NOTHING TO CURB THE NATION'S DANGEROUS DRINKING RECORD. RENEE GRAHAM REPORTS. HALF OF ALL 18- TO 25-YEAR-OLD NZERS ARE CONSIDERED HEAVY DRINKERS AT HIGH RISK. NOW NEW ALCOHOL LEGISLATION AIMS TO BATTLE OUR BOOZE CULTURE. IT AIMS TO HELP MINIMISE THE HARM CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE AND INAPPROPRIATE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL. SOME OF THE REFORMS INCLUDE ` GIVING COMMUNITIES MORE SAY ON LIQUOR STORE LOCATIONS; RESTRICTING THE TYPES OF STORES THAT SELL LIQUOR AND WHAT THEY SELL; INTRODUCING MAXIMUM TRADING HOURS; MAKING LICENSES HARDER TO GET AND EASIER TO LOSE; AND MAKING IT AN OFFENCE TO PROMOTE ALCOHOL IN A WAY THAT APPEALS TO MINORS. IT ALLOWS THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE TO BAN ALCOHOL PRODUCTS WHICH ARE ESPECIALLY APPEALING TO YOUNG PEOPLE OR PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS TO HEALTH. BUT CRITICS SAY THE REFORMS ARE WEAK. IN AUGUST, THE JUSTICE MINISTER BACKED DOWN ON PLANS TO RESTRICT THE SALE AND STRENGTH OF READY-MIX ALCOPOP DRINKS. ONE SPECIALIST IN ADDICTION REHABILITATION SAYS THE GOVERNMENT'S SHOWN AN APPALLING FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP AND HAS BUCKLED TO ALCOHOL INDUSTRY LOBBYING. IT'S CALLED THE ALCOHOL REFORM BILL, BUT IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY HAVE ANY REFORMS IN IT. IT'S A CYNICAL, HOLLOW BILL THAT IS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE HEAVY DRINKING CULTURE. THE LIQUOR LAW CHANGES ARE THE FIRST IN MORE THAN 20 YEARS. THE EVIDENCE WAS THERE, THE OPPORTUNITY WAS THERE, BUT AGAIN NATIONAL FAILED TO ACT. THE JUSTICE MINISTER SAYS THE LAWS ARE A SENSIBLE BALANCE AND REDUCE HARM WITHOUT PENALISING RESPONSIBLE DRINKERS. THEY'LL ROLL OUT OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS, FOUR YEARS AFTER THE BEEHIVE IGNITED DEBATE OVER HOW TO ERADICATE OUR TROUBLESOME DRINKING CULTURE. RENEE GRAHAM, ONE NEWS. THE MAORI COUNCIL SAYS IT WILL APPEAL AGAINST A HIGH COURT RULING OVER WATER RIGHTS THAT'S PUT ASSET SALES BACK ON THE TABLE. JUDGE RONALD YOUNG RULED EARLIER TODAY IN FAVOUR OF THE CROWN, SAYING THERE WAS NO REASON TO DELAY THE SALE OF MIGHTY RIVER POWER. THE MAORI COUNCIL ARGUES THE DECISION DISADVANTAGES MAORI AND THEIR ABILITY TO CLAIM WATER RIGHTS IN THE FUTURE. THAT'S A REAL DISAPPOINTMENT FOR ALL OF US ` THAT THE JUDGE HAS NOT LOOKED AT THE TREATY RELATIONSHIP AND THE MEANING THAT HAS FOR MAORI IN NZ. THE PLANNED SALE OF MIGHTY RIVER POWER IS THE FIRST IN THE GOVERNMENT'S ASSET SALES PROGRAMME. THE FATHER OF MURDERED FEILDING FARMER SCOTT GUY SAYS PEOPLE SHOULD FEEL SAFER WITH EWEN MACDONALD STAYING BEHIND BARS. MACDONALD WILL HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER 11 MONTHS TO ASK FOR RELEASE FROM PRISON. HE WAS ACQUITTED OF KILLING SCOTT GUY, BUT JAILED AFTER ADMITTING ARSON, VANDALISM AND KILLING ANIMALS AT NEIGHBOURING FARMS. THE PAROLE BOARD TODAY REJECTED HIS FIRST BID FOR FREEDOM, SAYING IT WASN'T CONVINCED HE DIDN'T POSE A THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY. SIMON BRADWELL WAS ALLOWED INTO THE HEARING. EWEN MACDONALD'S PARENTS LEFT MANAWATU PRISON IN SILENCE. MINUTES EARLIER, THEY'D HEARD THEIR SON WILL SPEND CHRISTMAS BEHIND BARS. MACDONALD WAS TOLD AFTER THE 90-MINUTE HEARING THAT HE HAD MUCH TO WORK ON; HAD UNDERLYING ISSUES THAT NEEDED ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELLING; AND THAT THE PAROLE BOARD WASN'T SATISFIED HE DIDN'T POSE UNDUE RISK TO THE COMMUNITY. IT REINFORCES THE FACT EWEN HAS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS ACTIONS. AND, YOU KNOW, HE HURT A LOT OF PEOPLE. THERE'S A LOT OF TRUST THAT HAS BEEN LOST. MACDONALD MERELY NODDED AT THE DECISION. WE WERE ONE OF ONLY TWO REPORTERS ALLOWED TO ATTEND, AGAINST THE WISHES OF THE MACDONALD FAMILY. MACDONALD WAS CLEARED OF KILLING FEILDING FARMER SCOTT GUY, BUT JAILED FOR SMASHING A DREAM HOME HE WAS BUILDING WITH WIFE KYLEE, AS WELL AS PAINTING ABUSE ON THE OUTSIDE. WE CAN REVEAL THAT A MEMBER OF KYLEE'S FAMILY MET WITH THE BOARD YESTERDAY TO ASK FOR MACDONALD TO BE KEPT IN JAIL. THE FAMILY TOLD THE BOARD MACDONALD WAS MOTIVATED BY REVENGE, RETALIATION AND JEALOUSY; WOULD NOT HAVE CHANGED HIS DECEPTIVE NATURE; AND WAS CALLOUS IN HIS OFFENDING, ONLY ADMITTING IT WHEN CAUGHT. IN A STATEMENT TO ONE NEWS, KYLEE GUY'S FAMILY SAID... MACDONALD'S ALSO IN JAIL FOR EMPTYING OUT A MILK VAT, BURNING DOWN A DUCK SHOOTER'S HUT AND KILLING 19 CALVES IN A REVENGE ATTACK AFTER BEING CAUGHT POACHING. CANDICE MOORE FOUND THE DEAD CALVES. HE'S JUST DANGEROUS. HE'S CAPABLE OF ANYTHING. I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A LIMIT TO HIS VIOLENT CAPACITY. MACDONALD TOLD THE BOARD... HE ALSO WROTE A LETTER TO THE BOARD EXPRESSING REMORSE. BUT BOARD MEMBER AND FORMER POLICEMAN NEVILLE TRENDLE SAID... MACDONALD HAD SEEN A PSYCHIATRIST, WHO SAID THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE HE'D ADDRESSED HIS ISSUES. WHEN ASKED HOW HE CAME ACROSS AT THE MEETING, MACDONALD REPLIED... DESCRIBING HIMSELF AS A MODEL PRISONER, MACDONALD SAID JAIL MADE HIM REALISE THE PAIN HE'D CAUSED HIS VICTIMS. NOW HE HAS AT LEAST 11 MORE MONTHS OF IT. SIMON BRADWELL, ONE NEWS. RESIDENTS ONE NEWS SPOKE TO TODAY IN FEILDING WERE LARGELY RELIEVED TO HEAR THAT EWEN MACDONALD WILL REMAIN BEHIND BARS FOR ANOTHER 11 MONTHS. A GOOD IDEA. FIRST PAROLE IS ALWAYS, AS THEY SAY, TURNED DOWN, SO HE MUST'VE HAD A FAIR IDEA HE WAS GONNA GET TURNED DOWN. AND, UM, YEAH... HE DESERVES TO BE IN THERE. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF HURT THAT CAME THROUGH FROM WHAT AROSE, AND PERHAPS IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT AT THE MOMENT HE IS HAVING TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF TIME FOR WHAT HE PUT EVERYBODY ELSE THROUGH. FEILDING'S MAYOR SAYS RESIDENTS ARE EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF BOTH THE GUY AND MACDONALD FAMILIES. SERIOUS QUESTONS ARE BEING ASKED ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S HANDLING OF ADVICE OVER DAVID BAIN'S COMPENSATION CASE. IT'S PROMPTED THE JUSTICE MINISTER TO GO PUBLIC ABOUT CONCERNS SHE HAS WITH SOME ASPECTS OF A CANADIAN JUDGE'S REPORT, WHICH IS BELIEVED TO RECOMMEND COMPENSATION. BUT THE RETIRED JUDGE SAYS JUDITH COLLINS HAS NEVER RAISED ANY CONCERNS WITH HIM. HERE'S POLITICAL REPORTER MICHAEL PARKIN. JUSTICE IAN BINNIE MAY HAVE SAT ON CANADA'S SUPREME COURT, BUT JUDITH COLLINS HAS RULED HIS WORK ON DAVID BAIN'S CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. SHE SAYS THE JUDGE 'MISUNDERSTOOD' NZ LAW, AND THAT'S WHY SHE'S HAVING LOCAL LAWYER ROBERT FISHER REVIEW THE BINNIE REPORT. THERE ARE PARTS OF THE REPORT, PARTICULARLY AROUND FACTS, MATTERS OF FACT, BUT ALSO AROUND PROCESS THAT WOULD NOT MEAN IT WOULD STAND UP TO ANY SORT OF SCRUTINY. FORMER JUSTICE MINISTER SIMON POWER SAID JUSTICE BINNIE HAD HAD A DISTINGUISHED CAREER IN A COUNTRY WITH A SIMILAR COMPENSATION REGIME TO NZ WHEN HE APPOINTED THE RETIRED JUDGE TO ASSESS THE BAIN CLAIM IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR. THE APPOINTMENT WAS VERY MUCH BASED ON THE FACT THAT MR BAIN'S SUPPORTERS WANTED AN OUTSIDE JUDGE. JUSTICE BINNIE'S BELIEVED TO HAVE FOUND DAVID BAIN NOT GUILTY OF KILLING FIVE FAMILY MEMBERS AND RECOMMENDS MR BAIN BE COMPENSATED FOR 13 YEARS BEHIND BARS. JUSTICE BINNIE'S REPORT HAS COST TAXPAYERS OVER $400,000. AND HE WAS CALLED TO WELLINGTON SHORTLY AFTER COMPLETING IT IN SEPTEMBER FOR WHAT HE CALLS A BRIEF MEETING WITH THE MINISTER. IN THIS STATEMENT TO ONE NEWS, HE SAYS HE HAS... A CLAIM JUDITH COLLINS DISPUTES. MY OFFICE HAS CERTAINLY BEEN IN CONTACT WITH JUSTICE BINNIE, BUT NOT ABOUT PARTICULAR DETAILS. IT WOULD SIMPLY NOT BE APPROPRIATE. DAVID BAIN'S LAWYER SAYS THE PROCESS IS 'NONSENSE'. IF SHE HAS GENUINE CONCERNS, SURELY THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH JUSTICE BINNIE ON A CONTINUING BASIS. HE'S A HIGHLY RESPECTED JUDGE ` MUCH MORE SENIOR THAN THE PERSON SHE'S REFERRED TO FOR A SECOND OPINION, OR PEER REVIEW, SHE SAYS. JUDITH COLLINS WILL RECEIVE ROBERT FISHER'S PEER REVIEW BY THE END OF THE WEEK, BUT CABINET WON'T HAVE A DECISION ON DAVID BAIN'S COMPENSATION UNTIL THE NEW YEAR. MICHAEL PARKIN, ONE NEWS. TEACHERS ARE BEING WARNED NOT TO EXPECT THEIR FULL CHRISTMAS PAY TONIGHT, WITH PAYROLL COMPANY NOVOPAY EXPERIENCING MORE PROBLEMS. THE AUSTRALIAN COMPANY SAYS IT'S HAVING ISSUES WITH THE END OF YEAR PAYROLL AND HAD EMAILED SOME SCHOOLS. PAYSLIPS ARE LATE AND STAFF WON'T KNOW UNTIL TOMORROW IF THEY'VE BEEN UNDERPAID. I MEAN, EVERYBODY'S STRESSED ABOUT IT. THE TEACHERS THEMSELVES ARE STRESSED ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY NEED THE MONEY, AND THOSE OF US WHO ARE PRINCIPALS AND ADMINISTRATORS ARE STRESSED ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE FEEL THE BURDEN OF RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE PAID. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ORDERED A FULL INDEPENDENT INQUIRY INTO NOVOPAY, FOLLOWING A SERIES OF GLITCHES WITH TEACHERS' PAY. A 60-YEAR-OLD PILOT IS IN HOSPITAL AFTER HIS TOP-DRESSING PLANE CRASHED ON A FARM NEAR TAUMARUNUI. THE CRASH OCCURRED JUST AFTER 5PM. IT WAS WITNESSED BY A FARMER WHO CALLED EMERGENCY SERVICES. THE PILOT WAS AIRLIFTED TO WAIKATO HOSPITAL. AN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN LAUNCHED INTO THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH. A LABELLING MIX-UP AT A SUPERMARKET PACKING PLANT HAS SEEN SOME OF OUR MEDAL-WINNING OLYMPIANS PROMOTING AUSTRALIAN BEEF. COUNTDOWN IS BLAMING HUMAN ERROR FOR THE BOTCH-UP, WHICH HAS AFFECTED 22 NORTH ISLAND SUPERMARKETS. NICOLE BREMNER REPORTS. MEAT-EATERS SEARCHING FOR A SLAB OF HOME-GROWN SIRLOIN MIGHT HAVE MISSED THE GLITCH DURING A SHOP AT COUNTDOWN. BUT CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALS THIS GUARANTEE OF KIWI QUALITY HAS BEEN SLAPPED ON TO THE WRONG STEAK. IT'S SERIOUS ENOUGH THAT WE NEED TO TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION. COUNTDOWN ADMITS IT MADE A FAIR DINKUM MISTAKE. WE'RE DISAPPOINTED THAT OUR QUALITY ASSURANCE PROCESSES BROKE DOWN. AND WE'VE GOT A FULL REVIEW IN PROCESS RIGHT NOW. AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE LOOK TO MITIGATE THIS IN THE FUTURE. PARENT COMPANY PROGRESSIVE ENTERPRISES ALSO CONCEDES THE INCORRECT LABELLING OF 137 PACKS BREACHES QUALITY MARK STANDARDS ` AN AUDITED GUARANTEE THAT'S BEEN CENTRAL TO WELL-KNOWN LOCAL AD CAMPAIGNS ENDORSED BY SOME OF OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL ATHLETES. # ...KIWI BEEF AND LAMB. # OUR NZ OLYMPIANS ARE THERE, AND THE ONES WE USE ARE THERE FOR US ` FOR NZ BEEF AND LAMB ` AND THAT'S HOW IT SHOULD BE. COUNTDOWN IS OFFERING FULL REFUNDS TO CUSTOMERS WHO'VE BOUGHT THE MISLABELLED MEAT, AND STRESSES THIS IS A TINY GLITCH ON A PRODUCTION LINE THAT PROCESSES MORE THAN 60,000 MEAT PACKS A DAY. EVEN SO, CONSUMERS ARE UNIMPRESSED. GET WITH THE PROGRAMME, GUYS. THIS IS DISGUSTING. I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT AT ALL. IT SUCKS, EH. SORT IT OUT, COUNTDOWN. SOMETHING COUNTDOWN'S UNDERTAKEN TO DO AS IT AND OTHER SUPERMARKETS HAVE BEEN PUT ON NOTICE BY BEEF AND LAMB NZ. NICOLE BREMNER, ONE NEWS. JUST AHEAD ` THE GRIEVING FAMILY OF THE NURSE INVOLVED IN THE ROYAL HOAX CALL SPEAKS OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME. AND HOW DOCTORS ARE USING THE HIV VIRUS TO DEVELOP A CANCER CURE. THE OWNERS OF A SYDNEY RADIO STATION RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PRANK PHONE CALL WHICH LED TO THE APPARENT SUICIDE OF A NURSE SAY THEY WILL DONATE AT LEAST $500,000 TO HELP HER FAMILY. JACINTHA'S SALDANHA'S FAMILY TODAY VISITED THE HOSPITAL WHERE SHE WAS FOUND DEAD. THE ABC'S BEN WORSLEY REPORTS. JACINTHA SALDANHA'S FAMILY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SHE DIED, BUT THEY WANTED TO SEE WHERE IT HAPPENED. HER HUSBAND AND TWO CHILDREN SPENT 30 MINUTES IN THE ROOM WHERE SHE APPARENTLY TOOK HER OWN LIFE. I DON'T THINK, IN THE 25 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, I'VE HAD TO BE WITH PEOPLE SO SAD IN SUCH TRAGIC CIRCUMSTANCES. ALSO PAYING THEIR RESPECTS, SOME OF THE PEOPLE THE 46-YEAR-OLD HELPED AS A NURSE. LAST NIGHT'S TELEVISION APPEARANCE BY THE 2DAY FM DJ'S BEHIND THE ILL-FATED PRANK REVEALED THE EMOTIONS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS STORY,... EMOTIONALLY: I HOPE THEY'RE OK. I REALLY DO. ...BUT IT ATTRACTED LITTLE SYMPATHY IN BRITAIN AND PROVIDED EASY FODDER FOR THE TABLOIDS. THE RADIO STATION'S CLAIM THAT IT TRIED TO CALL JACINTHA SALDANHA'S HOSPITAL FIVE TIMES BEFORE AIRING THE PRE-RECORDED PRANK IS UNDER QUESTION. THE HOSPITAL SAYS THE RADIO STATION DID NOT SPEAK TO ANYONE IN MANAGEMENT, NOR ANYONE WHO HANDLES THE MEDIA. THE DJ'S INVOLVED REMAIN OFF THE AIR, AND 2DAY FM TODAY CANCELLED ITS CHRISTMAS PARTY OUT OF RESPECT FOR JACINTHA SALDANHA'S FAMILY. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY WANT TO KNOW THE FACTS. THEY DON'T KNOW THE FACTS, AND THEY WILL EMERGE BY RUMOUR AND INNUENDO UNLESS THEY'RE GIVEN THE FACTS. AND I HOPE VERY MUCH THIS WILL BE DONE. THE ADVERTISING BAN ON THE STATION WILL BE LIFTED FROM THURSDAY. ALL PROFITS UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR, OR A MINIMUM OF $500,000, WILL BE DONATED BY THE AUSTEREO NETWORK TO A FUND TO DIRECTLY BENEFIT JACINTHA SALDANHA'S FAMILY. THE SALDANHA FAMILY IS SAID TO BE UPSET WITH THE TREATMENT THEY HAVE RECIEVED FROM KING EDWARD HOSPITAL. THEY'RE CALLING FOR AN INDEPENDENT INQUIRY INTO JACINTHA'S DEATH. THE LEGAL TROUBLES AREN'T OVER FOR A DISGRACED FORMER HEAD OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, DESPITE SETTLING A CIVIL LAWSUIT ON SEXUAL ASSAULT CLAIMS. THE HOTEL MAID WHO MADE THE ALLEGATIONS WAS AT A NEW YORK COURT FOR THE DEAL, WHICH REMAINS CONFIDENTIAL. THE SCANDAL COST DOMINIQUE STRAUSS-KAHN HIS JOB AND WRECKED HIS HOPES OF RUNNING FOR THE FRENCH PRESIDENCY. HE'S NOW AWAITING A RULING BY A FRENCH COURT ON PIMPING CHARGES RELATED TO SEX PARTIES WITH PROSTITUTES. NOW TO A BREAKTHROUGH IN CANCER TREATMENT ` USING HIV AS A WEAPON AGAINST CANCEROUS CELLS. THE RESEARCH HAS BEEN PRESENTED AT THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HAEMATOLOGY. ONLY A DOZEN PATIENTS TOOK PART IN THE TRIAL, BUT FOR ONE LITTLE GIRL THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN MIRACULOUS. THIS FROM ABC'S RICHARD BESSER. EMMA WHITEHEAD'S LEUKAEMIA SEEMED UNDEFEATABLE. NO TREATMENTS LEFT, AND SHE WAS ONLY 6. THEN, IN APRIL, A LAST GAMBLE ` USING HIV TO CURE, NOT KILL. DOCTORS TOOK OUT MILLIONS OF EMMA'S DISEASE-FIGHTING WHITE BLOOD CELLS, THEN USED A GENETICALLY ALTERED HIV VIRUS, WHICH IS GREAT AT GETTING INTO HUMAN IMMUNE SYSTEMS, TO CHANGE THOSE CELLS INTO TARGETED CANCER FIGHTERS. EMMA'S CELLS WENT BACK IN AND DESTROYED THE CANCER. DOCTOR STEPHEN GRUPP IS A PIONEER, USING HIV TO INFILTRATE THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. ALL OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE THE HIV VIRUS ABLE TO CAUSE DISEASE HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THIS PARTICULAR VIRUS, SO ITS ONLY PURPOSE IS TO PUT A GENE INTO A CELL. FOR ME, IT'S INCREDIBLY EXCITING. HERE'S EMMA JUST EIGHT MONTHS LATER. DOCTORS CAN'T FIND ANY REMAINING CANCER CELLS. SHE IS IN A COMPLETE REMISSION, SHE HAS NO LEUKAEMIA IN HER BODY BY ANY TESTS THAT WE CAN DO, EVEN THE MOST SENSITIVE TESTS. SHE HAS A TON OF ENERGY. SHE'S DOING WONDERFUL RIGHT NOW. THIS TREATMENT WAS A MIRACLE. EMMA IS COUNTING THE DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS. HER PARENTS ARE BUSY COUNTING THEIR BLESSINGS. (LAUGHS) COMING UP NEXT ` CHECK OUT THE LION, THE VET AND THE WONKY KNEE. AND WHY IS A HOLLYWOOD SUPERSTAR HAVING TEA WITH A SOLDIER? DOOR SLAMS She's in a violent relationship, and she's doing her best to hide it. Her mum, her aunties, friends and neighbours. They all know something's going on, but no one's saying anything. It's hard to know what to do. Ange. Are you OK? But the sooner you reach out to someone living with family violence, the sooner they can get help. Find out more at... IF YOU WANT A HELPING HAND TO GET AHEAD IN HOLLYWOOD, YOU COULDN'T GO FAR WRONG GETTING TWO-TIME OSCAR WINNER TOM HANKS AS YOUR MENTOR. IT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED TO GABRIEL POSEY, THANKS TO AN INITIATIVE TO HELP FORMER SOLDIERS AFTER THEY'VE LEFT THE ARMY. AMERICAN ABC'S BOB WOODRUFF REPORTS. GABRIEL POSEY (32), A STAFF SERGEANT IN THE ARMY, JUST RETURNED FROM THE SANDS OF AFGHANISTAN. BUT NOW, HERE IN LOS ANGELES, HE'S ABOUT TO GET A HUGE SURPRISE. WHAT HE KNOWS IS THAT HE'S BEEN MATCHED UP WITH A MENTOR TO HELP HIM GET A START IN THE FIELD HE HAS DREAMED ABOUT MUCH OF HIS LIFE ` SCREENWRITING. WHAT HE DOESN'T KNOW IS THAT HIS MENTOR IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN HOLLYWOOD. YOUR BROTHERS WERE KILLED IN COMBAT. THIS IS THE GREAT THING ABOUT SO MANY THINGS IN THE MILITARY ` MAN, THEY ARE REALLY GOOD AT SOLVING PROBLEMS. THOSE PEOPLE ARE WORTH THEIR WEIGHT IN PRECIOUS METALS. WHAT WOULD BE THE NUMBER-ONE THING YOU WOULD TELL GABRIEL ABOUT GETTING INTO THE FILM INDUSTRY? OK. YOU HAVE GOT TO SAY, 'I KNOW WHO I AM, I KNOW WHAT MY SKILLS ARE, 'AND I'M IN THIS FOR THE LONG HAUL.' PERSEVERENCE. IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THAT. I TOLD GABRIEL THAT HIS MENTOR WASN'T REALLY WELL-KNOWN; JUST SOMEONE WITH CONNECTIONS. I LIED. BOTH CHUCKLE I'M GONNA SHOW YOU WHO THIS IS. I THINK YOU'LL BE VERY HAPPY TO SEE WHO IT IS. OH! (CHUCKLES) WOW! NO WAY. I LOVE TOM HANKS. GABRIEL, HOW ARE YOU? MR HANKS. WHAT A PLEASURE. NICE TO SEE YOU. IT'S AN HONOUR. PLEASE, YOU GOTTA CALL ME TOM. SO, WITH A POT OF TEA, THE SERGEANT GOT THE CHANCE TO LEARN FROM THIS ACTOR, WRITER, PRODUCER AND MORE. HAVE YOU EVER TASTED FAILURE WHILE WORKING, AND HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH IT? OH YEAH. YOU, AS A WRITER, YOU ARE GOING TO WRITE THINGS THAT NO ONE IS GOING TO GET; NO ONE IS GOING TO UNDERSTAND. AND YOU CANNOT LET THAT GET IN YOUR WAY WHATSOEVER. NOW GABRIEL IS MAKING PLANS TO MOVE TO HOLLYWOOD, STAY IN TOUCH WITH HIS MENTOR AND HOPEFULLY FULFIL HIS LIFELONG DREAM. THE ONLY MALE LION AT AUCKLAND ZOO'S HAD SURGERY FOR A DODGY KNEE. PEOPLE WATCHED AS NGALA (10) WAS OPERATED ON. THE SURGEONS DISCOVERED A TEAR IN THE CRUCIATE LIGAMENT WHICH COULDN'T BE FULLY REPAIRED, SO NGALA'S CONDITION WILL NOW HAVE TO BE MANAGED. NOW TO THE WEATHER. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING. GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY RICHARD EDMUNDS AND CONOR WHITTEN. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR.